The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-24
our Foreign Mail Service.

Nicholas M. Bell, superintendent of for
eign mails, in his annual report. says that
during the last fiscal year the Post Office De-
partment had regularly received tenders for
the conveyance of United States mails from
all the steamship companies, both foreign
and domestic, departing from the ports Of
the United States for foreign countries, and
such as have shown the greatest speed hay
been accepted at the compensation of the
sea and inland postage ($l.60 pound for let
ters aud post cards, and cents pound for
other articles). when American in build and
register, and the sea- postage IA cents and AZ
cents when of foreign build and register.
The cost of foreign mail service during the
year was $437,447, of which $429,036 was
compensation for sea-conyeyance.an AN increase
fer the year of $87, AT. Referring to the
system of dispatching European mails by
the fastest steamer, the Superintendent says:
"The present system of dispatching the
transatlantic mails by the fastest steamers,
without regard to the flag under which they
sail, has given great satisfaction to the peo-
pie of the United States. And much COM
plant has been made by the commercial and
financial interests of the country on account
of the different policy pursued by some OF
the European governments in conhnlng the
dispatches of their mails for the United
States to certain lines of steamers. without
regard to the speed of the vessels; SO that 1t
often happens that imported merchandise
shipped by fast steamers arrives at the New
York custom house before the mails contain
ing the letters of advice respecting the mer-
chandise reach this country. which in many
instances results in Inconvenience to con-
signees."
OF the Central and South American ser.
vice the report says: The central and
South American service is as good as can be
obtained under the present system Of dis.
patching mails by vessels when loaded
frequently vessels rendered to the Depart
ment to convey these mails on certain day
sail several days before or after the time ap-
pointed to the annoyance and Inconvenience
of correspondents. have to suggest as one
means of correcting this evil, that If the
Postmaster-G General were authorized by law
to allow an additional compensation. over
and above that allowed to vessels engaged In
this service upon the basis of the weights OF
the mails conveyed. a system of premiums
and penalties might be mutually agreed up
on by this Department and steamship COM
panies, which would make 1t to the advan-
tage of the steamship companies to adhere
closely to their scheduled sailing dates,
whereby the efficiency of the service would
be materially increased and the commercial
interests of the country benefited
Pensions Granted.
The following pensions have been award
ed to residents Of Maine:
ORIGINAL.
Preston B. Jones, Bangor
Joseph r. Sawyer, West Buxton.
INCREASE.
John Bunker, Rockland.
Charles G. Hurd, Dover.
Sylvanus Hyler, Thomaston.
Thomas W. Applebee Kennebunkport.
REISSUE.
Charles A. Hadley Machias.
John Conley, TOgus.
Louis l.. Day, Trenton.
Samuel W. Chapman, Nobleboro.
RESTORATION AND INCREASE.
Joshua N ROwe ROckland